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5 Calorie Burning Tips for Your Next Workout

A serious calorie burning workout doesn’t have to be intense. And you don't need to go to a fancy gym or hire a pricey personal trainer either. My research and experience as a trainer has shown that you can burn more calories, build more muscle and have more energy just by making a few simple changes that won't cost you a cent. Follow this game plan:

1. Calorie Burning Tip: Milk it.
Have a big glass of low-fat chocolate milk or drinkable yogurt five to 15 minutes before you work out. In one of my recent studies, I found that people who downed a drink containing 15 to 20 grams of protein and 30 to 40 grams of carbs gained more muscle and lost more body fat than those who skipped the beverage. Food doesn't work as well as liquids do, because it takes longer to digest it.

2. Calorie Burning Tip: Water works.
Your muscles are 75 percent water, so it's crucial to keep them hydrated throughout your routine. For every 1 percent of water you lose, your performance drops by 3 percent. How much water is enough? Drink 12 to 16 ounces (0.35 to 0.47 litres) for every 30 minutes of exercise. Or when you can, grab a sports energy drink. According to the Australian Institute of Sport, fluid intake is enhanced when water-based beverages are cool in temperature, flavoured and contain sodium.

3. Calorie Burning Tip: Pump up your playlist.
You can work out harder -- but feel like you're putting in less effort -- just by listening to music that has at least 125 beats per minute (the tempo of most dance and rock songs). Research from the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that these high-energy tunes can bump up your endurance by 15 percent while making it seem like you're putting out 10 percent less effort.

4. Calorie Burning Tip: Ask for company.
Invite a friend with the same fitness level to work out with you. In another recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, dieters who trained with a friend lost about 60 percent more weight than those who did it solo. Why? You're less likely to blow off exercise if you're meeting someone, plus you'll probably work out a little harder and burn more calories than if you were on your own. 

5. Calorie Burning Tip: Change the pace.
Switching from high intensity to low intensity and back again a few times during your workout will burn more calories than maintaining a steady pace the entire time. For example, if you're spending 30 minutes on the treadmill, begin with a three-minute warm-up at 3.21 km/h. Then alternate four three-minute intervals at 4.02 km/h with four three-minute intervals at 5.63 km/h. Finish with a three-minute cooldown at 3.21 km/h.

What’s your calorie burning secret? Share it below or tweet us @OralCareHealth